Monday, April 5, 2010

That Time of the Month...

It's time for our monthly national and North Carolina polls so that means we're taking your suggestions on three things:

-Who should we include as the 4th Republican tested along with Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Mitt Romney in our 2012 poll? We've already looked at Ron Paul, John Thune, Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels, and David Petraeus so they're all out. Beyond that we're open to your nominations for the next 24 hours and we'll choose finalists and put it to a vote starting tomorrow. Personally I don't understand the point in looking at folks like Thune and Daniels who have zero national name recognition- I can pretty much tell you they're going to be down 12 to Obama with 70% or more of the country saying they have no opinion of them. But if someone like that wins, that's who we'll poll.

-Always looking for creative questions to ask on these national polls- not the stuff that every other pollster in the country is asking. What should we take a look at that there's not much or any data out there on?

-It's also North Carolina week. Anything beyond the basic stuff we do on every poll that we should be looking at?

"What should we take a look at that there's not much or any data out there on?"

Poll support for third party and independent alternatives to the Democratic and Republican Parties!

Polling organizations often ask independents if they "lean" toward the Democrats or Republicans. Ask them instead if they lean toward a third party: As an independent do you lean more toward the Green, Party, Libertarian Party etc.?

Ask it even ask all respondents as a "leaners" type question: Do you lean more toward the positions espoused by Green Party, Libertarian Party, or independent candidates for elected office?

Finally, just ask if respondents are willing to support a third party or independent candidate for office. And then ask them which party's candidates they would support: Tea Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party etc.

Though Thune and Pence may end up being worthwhile in 2012 or beyond, I doubt many people have enough knowledge of them yet to make a decision.

Also, do you plan on getting any more specific with the NC Senate polling? Any idea on when campaigns may go up on tv? Are there any trends that you are seeing to suggest how the Dem. primary may play out?

Poll former governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson. He seems to be one of the favorites of the Ron Paul crowd and with Paul getting up in age, his supporters probably will look for someone with their views to support.

1. Ask if they would prefer a teaparty candidate or a third party candidate?

2. Why not leave off the fourth person and just poll the top three: Huckabee, Palin, Romney. Then have a follow up question asking if they want a whole new slate of candidates or prefer those next in line from 2008?

Rudy Giuliani appeared to be positioning himself as a presidential candidate in Miami this morning while endorsing Marco Rubio/returning the favor to Charlie Crist. It would be interesting to see how Giuliani would fare against Mitt Romney in New Hampshire and Florida, but without John McCain competing for the same vote this time around.

May as well go with Scott Brown even though his star isn't shining quite so brightly as he's getting to work as a senator. But there's no one else with name recognition at this point in the alleged race.

Would love to see you poll people's feelings on creating a strong CFPA, with a fair description of what it would do. The financial regulation fight in the Senate seems to be coming down to the CFPA, and I have no idea where the public is at on this, is it a winning issue for dems?

Start including everyone who's on the ballot in your polls. Third parties, independents - everyone! Otherwise, it's unfair to those candidates and unfair to voters who can't choose those candidates and voters who don't know about those candidates.